There’s a $15,000 Hidden Cost to Dog Ownership in London

There’s no doubt about it – dogs are expensive. First there is the initial cost of purchasing a puppy or adopting your new pet. Puppies need shots and any new canine will require a laundry list of supplies. Not to mention spaying/neutering, regular checkups, flea and tick prevention and all the other added health costs of raising a dog. We can’t forget the hidden costs like emergency surgeries, but that’s not the half of it for dog owners in London.

High property prices and a trend that is pushing more landlords to write “no pets allowed” on their rental agreements makes finding a suitable home a tough job for many pet parents in the United Kingdom’s capital city. Pet parents are having a hard time finding homes that will accept their canine companions, unless of course they are willing to pony up an enormous deposit.

Many rental properties in the United States charge an additional $100-$300 deposit for dogs (and some are higher), but in London some dog owners are being required to pay an extra 10,000 pounds – that’s just over $15,000. The average flat in London costs about 10,000 pounds per month, and they require an average deposit of 15,000 pounds. If a tenant has a dog that deposit could increase to upwards of 25,000 pounds!

On top of the added expense, many landlords will also include a clause in their tenancy agreements that require dog owners to pay for professional cleaning services before they move. This can add hundreds of pounds to their financial burden. Despite the hidden costs of raising canines increasing exponentially, dog ownership in London has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years. That trend is being seen all over the UK, and in many other parts of the world as well.

The issue for pet parents in London doesn’t just stop at higher deposit prices. It is also fueled by the fact that over 40 percent of all the prime properties in Central London don’t allow dogs at all. Things are so bad that many pet parents are lying about the fact that they own a dog just to get into an apartment. I would assume they get evicted if anyone finds out they have one, but that’s another issue.

Some landlords state that it takes about 7 times longer for a tenant with a dog to rent a flat than someone who does not own any pets. Despite the large extra costs and the burden of finding a home, it’s not stopping people from owning dogs in London. The demand for puppies and adult dogs is still growing.

I don’t think dogs make much of a difference when it comes to the state that a property is kept. If a tenant is responsible and reliable, then they are probably going to be that way in every aspect of their lives including being a pet parent. Chances are, these responsible tenants are also responsible dog owners who clean up after their pet, replace anything their pet damages and keeps their home clean. Even if a dog is destructive, a responsible pet parent would crate him when left alone or send him to doggy daycare.

On the other hand, a person that is an irresponsible tenant will likely be that way whether they own a dog or not. Their home will be messy, they will not care for the property and they probably won’t keep up with day to day maintenance either. This problem would certainly be fueled by the extra dirt and dander or a dog, but the home would still be poorly kept regardless of any animals living there.

Samantha’s biggest passion in life is spending time with her Boxer dogs. After she rescued her first Boxer in 2004, Samantha fell in love with the breed and has continued to rescue three other Boxers since then. She enjoys hiking and swimming with her Boxers, Maddie and Chloe.

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